Mitchell Goldhar

Early Life, Education and Family Background

Mitchell Goldhar was born in 1962 into a Canadian Jewish family, a background that has informed aspects of his public life and philanthropy. His father, Leo Goldhar, was Canadian, and his mother, Sala Goldhar, was a Holocaust survivor who had emigrated from Poland. Her experience as a survivor from Poland is a part of his family history that he has acknowledged. Goldhar pursued his higher education in Toronto, completing a bachelor's degree at York University, which provided the foundation for his future business career. His personal life includes becoming a father on October 2, 2025, at the age of 63, an event that added a new chapter to his family story.

SmartCentres and Real Estate Career

Goldhar's most significant business achievement is the creation and development of SmartCentres. He founded the company with a focused strategy of developing large, Walmart-anchored shopping malls in suburban locations across Canada. This model proved highly successful, catering to consumer demand for convenient, one-stop retail destinations and significantly shaping the country's commercial real estate sector. The company's operations were later restructured into the SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), a publicly traded entity. Goldhar retains a substantial ownership stake in the REIT, which continues to be a dominant force in Canadian retail property ownership and management. His work with SmartCentres has been the subject of business profiles, including a feature in The Globe and Mail in October 2011 titled 'Mr. SmartCentres, Mitch Goldhar, gives Canadians what they want'.

Mitchell Goldhar owned SmartCentres, a firm that developed Walmart-anchored shopping malls in Canada. He retains a significant ownership stake in its successor firm, SmartCentres REIT. The company's development was a key part of his business career. His leadership in the firm contributed to his status as a billionaire businessman.

• Foundation of the original SmartCentres development firm.
• Focus on developing properties anchored by Walmart stores.
• Expansion across numerous suburban Canadian communities.
• Transition of assets into the publicly traded SmartCentres REIT.
• Goldhar's retention of a significant ownership stake in the REIT.
• The model's influence on Canadian suburban commercial development patterns.

Ownership of Maccabi Tel Aviv

In August 2009, Mitchell Goldhar expanded his portfolio into international sports by acquiring the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv. His ownership marked a major investment in the club, bringing financial stability and ambitious goals to one of Israel's most historic sporting institutions. Under his tenure, the club has competed in domestic leagues and European competitions, striving for success on multiple fronts. Goldhar's involvement as a foreign owner in Israeli football has been high-profile, occasionally attracting media scrutiny alongside the club's sporting pursuits.

Notable Acquisitions and Cultural Engagement

Goldhar has made several notable acquisitions that reflect his personal interests and philanthropic spirit. The purchase price was US$1,067,538, set at a world record auction for hockey memorabilia at the time. This acquisition was an effort to keep a piece of significant Canadian sports history within the country, as the sweater was being auctioned by an anonymous American collector before Goldhar's winning bid. The purchase demonstrated his willingness to invest in items of national cultural importance beyond his core business interests.

In 2010, Mitchell Goldhar bought the sweater Paul Henderson wore while scoring the decisive final goal in the Summit Series. He paid US$1,067,538 for it at auction, which was a world record for hockey memorabilia. The sweater was being auctioned off by an anonymous American collector. This purchase represents a notable engagement with an item of Canadian national significance.

• Date: 2010.
• Purchase price: US$1,067,538.
• Significance: A world record price for hockey memorabilia at the time of sale.
• Previous owner: An anonymous American collector.
• Context: The 'Summit Series' between Canada and the Soviet Union.

Legal Action Against Haaretz

In December 2011, Mitchell Goldhar initiated a libel case against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz over an article he claimed was defamatory. He issued a libel notice on December 30, 2011, seeking to have the case heard in Canada, where he resides and conducts business. Haaretz challenged the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds, arguing the case should be heard in Israel based on principles of forum non conveniens, as the publication is based there. The legal proceedings spanned several years, culminating in a 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. The court decided that the case could not proceed in Canadian courts due to a lack of jurisdiction, stating that if Goldhar wished to pursue the matter further, he would have to do so in Israel, which ended the Canadian legal action.

On December 30, 2011, Mitchell Goldhar issued a libel notice against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Haaretz responded by challenging the lawsuit on the basis of jurisdiction and forum non conveniens. In 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the case could not be heard in Canada. The court stated that if Goldhar wished to pursue the case further, it must be done in Israel.

• December 30, 2011: Goldhar issues a libel notice against Haaretz.
• Haaretz challenges the lawsuit on jurisdiction and forum non conveniens grounds.
• 2018: The Supreme Court of Canada rules on the case.
• The Supreme Court's decision: The case cannot be heard in Canada.
• The court's stipulation: Further pursuit of the case must occur in Israel.

Net Worth and Financial Standing

Mitchell Goldhar's financial standing is tracked by major publications and exemplifies significant wealth derived from real estate. Forbes Israel listed his net worth at US$2.3 billion as of its February 2023 assessment, which ranks him among the wealthiest individuals in Canada. Earlier estimates, such as one from December 2019, placed his wealth at approximately US$2.6 billion, indicating the fluctuations typical of major asset-based fortunes tied to publicly traded real estate investment trusts. His net worth consistently ranks him among Canada's billionaires, with his fortune primarily anchored in his substantial stake in SmartCentres REIT. The value of this stake is directly linked to the performance and asset base of the property portfolio developed through his original company.

Business and Cultural Impact

Mitchell Goldhar's impact on Canadian business is most visible in the physical commercial environment through the widespread SmartCentres properties. His model demonstrated the commercial viability of large-format, anchor-tenant retail developments, influencing suburban planning and consumer habits nationwide for decades. In the cultural sphere, his record-setting purchase of Paul Henderson's Summit Series sweater demonstrated a commitment to preserving national sporting heritage for future generations of Canadians. As the owner of Maccabi Tel Aviv, he represents a notable example of a Canadian businessman owning a top-tier European football club, building a connection between Canadian capital and international sport. His career combines strategic real estate development, cross-border investment, and selective cultural patronage, leaving a distinct mark on multiple sectors both within Canada and abroad.

Questions about Mitchell Goldhar

How did Mitchell Goldhar make his money?

Mitchell Goldhar built his fortune primarily through real estate development. He founded SmartCentres, a company that specialized in developing large shopping centres anchored by Walmart stores across Canada. This highly successful business model was later structured into the publicly traded SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust. Goldhar retains a significant ownership stake in this REIT, which forms the core of his multi-billion dollar net worth derived from commercial property assets.

What is Mitchell Goldhar's net worth?

Mitchell Goldhar's net worth is estimated in the billions of dollars. According to Forbes Israel, his net worth was listed at US$2.3 billion as of February 2023. Previous estimates, such as one from December 2019, had placed his wealth at approximately US$2.6 billion. His fortune is largely derived from his real estate holdings, particularly his stake in the SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust.

What sports team does Mitchell Goldhar own?

Mitchell Goldhar has owned the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club since August 2009. He is a Canadian billionaire and businessman with a significant ownership stake in SmartCentres REIT. His acquisition of the Israeli football club is a notable part of his diverse business portfolio. Goldhar's net worth was estimated at US$2.3 billion by Forbes Israel in February 2023. He was born in 1962 and completed his bachelor's degree at York University in Toronto.

What did Mitchell Goldhar buy for over a million dollars in 2010?

In 2010, Mitchell Goldhar bought the sweater Paul Henderson wore while scoring the decisive final goal in the Summit Series. He paid US$1,067,538 for it at an auction held by an anonymous American collector. This purchase set a world record for hockey memorabilia at the time. Goldhar is a Canadian billionaire known for owning the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and SmartCentres REIT. This acquisition highlights his interest in significant historical sports items.

What was the outcome of Mitchell Goldhar's lawsuit against Haaretz?

In 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Mitchell Goldhar's libel case against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz could not be heard in Canada. The court stated that if Goldhar wished to pursue the case further, it must be done in Israel. This lawsuit originated from a libel notice Goldhar issued against Haaretz on December 30, 2011, after they published an article he claimed was defamatory. Haaretz had previously challenged the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds. Goldhar is a Canadian billionaire businessman and the owner of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club.

Where did Mitchell Goldhar go to university and what is his family background?

Mitchell Goldhar completed his bachelor's degree at York University in Toronto. He is Jewish, and his father, Leo Goldhar, is Canadian. His mother, Sala Goldhar, was a Holocaust survivor from Poland. Goldhar was born in 1962 and is a Canadian billionaire businessman. He is the owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and a major stakeholder in SmartCentres REIT, with a net worth estimated at US$2.3 billion in February 2023.

Sources and further reading

• Mitchell Goldhar (Wikipedia)
• Mitchell Goldhar (smartcentres.com)
• Mitchell Goldhar, Chancellors' Circle of Benefactors (chancellorscircle.utoronto.ca)
• THE WAY FORWARD WEBCAST: Mitchell Goldhar (peo-leadership.com)
• Mitchell Goldhar (montreal-wealth.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.